Seventy-five years ago, Sinclair Lewis became the first American to win the Nobel Prize in literature. He traveled the world and was welcomed in the most distinguished of literary circles.

St. Paul, Minn. —
Yet he referred to himself as "Sauk Centre in a Saville Row suit." Lewis grew up in the central Minnesota town of Sauk Centre. His fictional creation of Gopher Prairie is said to be based on it.

He said "to understand America, it is merely necessary to understand Minnesota." A new collection of Lewis's stories is out, and they may help readers better understand Minnesota.

Sally Parry, Executive Director of the Sinclair Lewis Society, edited the book, "The Minnesota Stories of Sinclair Lewis." She's in Minnesota for Sinclair Lewis Days in Sauk Centre, which include a conference on his works.

Sinclair Lewis Days run through July 17 in Sauk Centre, Lewis' home town.